A majority of those who won seats in the Philippine Senate in this month’s midterm elections are allies of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, but not all. This was obvious in their official proclamation today, where netizens noticed that all except two senators did the signature Duterte fist bump pose for a photo.
Those were Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay, who were proclaimed senators with 10 others at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
Poe, instead, placed her right hand on her chest, while Binay formed a number one sign with her left hand — which symbolizes her political party the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Check out the video from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) below:
Out of the 12 newly-elected senators, only Poe, Binay, and actor Lito Lapid were not backed by the administration. Poe is an independent candidate, Binay is with UNA, and Lapid was backed by the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
The other winning senatorial candidates are Cynthia Villar, Christopher “Bong” Go, Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Imee Marcos, Francis Tolentino, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla.
The striking visual of the two women refusing to do the Duterte hand signal immediately caught the attention of many netizens who commended them for it.
“Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay refused to do the Duterte fist bump. Yas! Queens!” Twitter user @KeftQuiet said.
Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay refused to do the Duterte fist bump. Yas! Queens! 👏
— Keft Sobredo (@KeftQuiet) May 22, 2019
@Imjhaaay thanked them for not doing the pose.
Thank you Grace Poe and Nancy Binay for not doing the duterte fist pose.
— Mj (@Imjhaaay) May 22, 2019
@JULESguiang said: “Now that’s a statement.”
Now that’s a statement. https://t.co/SGZ5XmNHYX
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) May 22, 2019
@XaveGregorio said: “It’s a bit cliche, but it still bears repeating: A picture is worth a thousand words.”
It's a bit cliche, but it still bears repeating: A picture is worth a thousand words. https://t.co/cmiBRK5MiC
— Xave Gregorio (@XaveGregorio) May 22, 2019
@arpeelazaro said what Poe and Binay did was just right. “As senators, they should be independent.”
Tama din naman. As senators, they should be independent. https://t.co/8t4cAR0Rel
— Arpee Lazaro (@arpeelazaro) May 22, 2019
@xhotie said: “Voted only five [senatorial] candidates, included are these two ladies. Like them for being ‘independent’, in a way.”
Voted only five candidates, included are these two ladies. Like them for being ‘independent’, in a way.☺
WATCH: Grace Poe, Nancy Binay nix Duterte fist bump:https://t.co/7ozTMzJyMr via @ABSCBNNews— Neil Jefferson Ching 🔑 (@xhotie) May 22, 2019
@zaldytor said: “Senator Grace Poe & Sen. Nancy Binay ain’t doing that trashy duterte fist pose. Is this a preview of an ‘independent senate’ and future policy making of this admin?”
Senator Grace Poe & Sen. Nancy Binay ain’t doing that trashy duterte fist pose.
Is this a preview of an “independent senate” and future policy making of this admin? pic.twitter.com/bKCj7qiCL3
— Zaldy Tor (@zaldytor) May 22, 2019
@PeterToshBot shared a gif from the movie Friday that says “DAAAAAAAAMN.”
"Grace Poe,Nancy Binay refuse to do the Duterte fist bump."
Me: pic.twitter.com/92jApuQ79m— #WaluigiForSmash │ #LetLeniLead (@PeterToshBot) May 22, 2019
“I stan Nancy Binay and Grace Poe 100 percent,” @chairon_9798 tweeted.
https://twitter.com/chairon_9798/status/1131044793021214720
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